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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
— Will Durant
Bianca and I are gearing up for DevLearn in Las Vegas this November, and every time we discuss how L&D professionals can benefit from thinking like marketers, I get more excited! From using personas to understand your audience to crafting visuals and messaging that grab attention, there’s so much we can adapt. If you’ll be there, let me know—I’d love to connect!
Thanks for reading!
🎶 What I’m Listening To
Something about the quiet, gray days we’ve had this week has me tuning into “All Out 70’s”
👆 Last Week’s Most Clicked
How to Be Lucky in Business and Life: 4 Science-Backed Principles
📰 News & Notes
Effective Learning Strategies depend on Prior Knowledge
The latest from the Learning Scientists blog highlights how prior knowledge can make all the difference in learning. Using baseball double plays and chess as examples shows how experts chunk information into familiar patterns while novices struggle to process each piece. This difference in thinking leads to the “expertise reversal effect,” where novices need structured guidance, but experts thrive when left to problem-solve independently. It’s a reminder that learning strategies should evolve as people progress from novice to expert, much like leveling up in a game!
🎯 Take away: Novices need guidance, but experts thrive on challenges—so the best learning strategy depends on your level of expertise!
Why I Use Snipd for Podcasts
If you love learning through podcasts, Jeremy Caplan explains why Snipd is the sidekick you didn’t know you needed! With a tap of your AirPods or a button on the app, you can save and highlight key moments, seamlessly sync them to your notes, and even share them as mini audiograms. The AI-powered episode summaries and transcripts make finding golden nuggets even easier (premium features come at $42/year). While it lacks a desktop app, the ability to build a personal library of learn-worthy clips makes it perfect for anyone, especially content curators, looking to level up their podcast game!
🎯 Take away: Snipd turns learning from podcasts into a breeze, letting you save, share, and organize key moments with just a tap
Are We Now Too Impatient to Be Intelligent?
Rory Sutherland points out that we often prioritize readily available information over deeper, more meaningful knowledge. Time isn’t just a sequence of moments. It shapes who we are, how we perceive the world, and how businesses succeed. Understanding how time affects our behavior allows us to make smarter choices and create more impactful experiences. Are you ready to master the art of time? (This is worth watching, especially if you’ve never seen Rory speak – he is one of my favorites.)
Take away: Faster isn’t always better, we should consider the value of slowing down and taking time to appreciate the journey.
Consider these 5 key questions before making your move to eLearning!
Moving to eLearning might be the right decision for your organization, but it’s crucial to consider all the possibilities and outcomes to help you formulate a plan before making your move. Find out what to look for as you move your live or instructor-led training to a digital environment.
🧰 Tech Tools & Tips
If tools are your jam, check out my new Work Smarter newsletter.
S.T.O.R.M.
STORM (Stanford’s Online Research Manager) is an AI tool that simplifies research, automating the collection and organization of information to create detailed, well-cited learning materials. It integrates both online and user-provided sources, offering more control and efficiency in developing high-quality content for workplace learning.
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Arcade
Arcade is an interactive demo platform that allows teams to create effortlessly beautiful demos in minutes. Great for software & other similar training
Deepen your learning, elevate your impact. Join the 5th Annual Design for Deeper Learning Fall Series for expert insights and practical tools to enhance your nonprofit’s adult learning practices.
🎧 Podcast
This is the conversation that caught my ear this week. Check out previous episodes in the Friday Finds podcast playlist.
Learning Futures with Charles Jennings
Charles Jennings drops some wisdom bombs for L&D pros: stop obsessing over skills mapping and competency frameworks! Instead, focus on teams as the “atomic units” driving performance. With a nod to the future, Charles highlights how generative AI could revolutionize workplace learning but stresses that true excellence comes from tackling broader systemic factors. The takeaway? Shift your gaze from individual development to team dynamics and embrace the changing landscape with a holistic view.
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🧳 Where’s Mike?
- DevLearn, Las Vegas, November 5-8
- 5th Annual Design for Deeper Learning Fall Series, November 14 (Online)
- From Boring to Bravo: How to Be a Slide Design Superstar, November 19 ATD Rhode Island (Online and only $10)
If you or your event needs a speaker or workshop that is highly interactive and super practical, we should talk.
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Friday Finds is an independent publication that I produce in my free time. You can support my work by sharing it with the world, booking an advertising spot, or buying me a coffee.
Mike Taylor 